Nigeria strengthens social security drive at International Labour Conference in Geneva

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding social security coverage and strengthening employee protection systems in partnership with the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

The commitment was restated on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, where ISSA Secretary-General Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano met with a Nigerian delegation led by NSITF Executive Director of Administration, Samaila Abdu, who represented the Managing Director, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye.

ISSA, the world’s leading association of social security institutions, has over 340 member organisations across 165 countries.

During the engagement, Caetano commended the NSITF for successfully hosting a regional social security conference in Abuja earlier this year and praised the current management team for its efforts in promoting social protection systems across West Africa.

He also lauded Nigeria’s growing role in advancing social security development within Africa and globally, noting the importance of stronger institutional collaboration in improving inclusiveness and accessibility of social protection services.

The NSITF delegation highlighted Nigeria’s renewed focus on strengthening employee compensation frameworks and expanding access to social insurance schemes as part of broader reforms aimed at improving worker welfare.

The engagement builds on outcomes of a West African ISSA conference hosted in Abuja on April 22–23, themed “Improving Inclusiveness and Accessibility of Social Security Services Through Effective Communication in West Africa,” which brought together regional social security institutions to discuss reforms and service delivery improvements.